Castle Rock

Castle Rock

Meeting as students attending FSU, the founding members of Cruxshadows (pronounced Croo-shadows), Rogue, Sean Flanagan and Tim Curry, started a conceptual Goth music group.

But Cruxshadows' music does not conform to what "Goth" is usually associated with (Marilyn Manson type shock-rock). It reflects more of the Punk-influenced, synth-driven music that came to fruition in the ‘80s-- Sousie Sioux or Gary Numan, for example.

The group has gone through lineup changes in spades (of the three founding members only Rogue remains), tours both domestic and abroad ("one of only a few notable bands from the West to have played in countries like Romania and Serbia since the end of the Cold War," according to the band's Web site biography) and collaborations with musicians in the studio and on the road.

Cruxshadows garnered significant album sales overseas, as well as radio play and concert attendance throughout all of Europe (especially in Germany and the Netherlands). Their infamy at home and abroad is in no small part to their infamous, glamorous spectacle of a live show, displaying their much-publicized warmth toward their fans (dispelling the stereotype of goth malaise) and willingness to perpetually tour across two continents.

The took the No. 1 slot on the Hot Dance Sales Chart twice with "Sophia" (2006) and "Birthday" (2007).

"Birthday" also debuted at No. 2 on the Hot Singles Sales Chart, behind the cast of "High School Musical 2” and a spot ahead of Stevie Nicks.

(“Sophia" popped its head up again and climbed to No. 3 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart as a result of the success of "Birthday.")